Combined electric and steam garment and cloth pressing apparatus



July 7, 1931. w. J. DA NENHOWER 1,813,563

COMBINED ELECTRIC AND STEAM GARMENT AND CLOTH PRESSING APPARATUS Filed March 6. 1928 wanes;

Patented July 7, 1931 UNITED. STATES PATENT oFrrcE WILLIAM J. DANENHOWER,.OF LOS' ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TC LOBAJAYNE WOLTZEN, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

COMBINED ELECTRIC AND STEAM GARMENT AND CLOTH PRESSING APPARATUS Application filed March 6,

This invention relates to that class and character of garment and fabric smoothing and pressing apparatus, in which a selfheated smoothing iron is provided with a steam chamber and outlets therefrom through the bottom of the smoothing iron for the purpose of applying steam to the article to be smoothed and pressed, and such steam has heretofore been applied through a valve nor-' 1Q mally open .to a steam chamber in the iron and to a steam supply, and closable by connection with foot operated treadle means under the control of the operator for the purpose of closing the valve when the application of steam is excessive and it has been proposed to provide inside the iron an electrical heater to heat the steam before it passes through the openings in the bottom of'the smoothing iron, thus to supply what is termed dry steam for moistening the fabric to be smoothed and pressed.

Heretofore the operation ofsuch apparatus has required much sln'll and careful attention on the part of the operator' for the reason that there is a constant danger that too much moisture may be applied at any moment, to thefabric, thus saturating the "material so that instead of properly-fulling the material, there'results a flattening down of the fibers thereof, and the smoothing operation of the heated iron produces a slick and shiny effect, and the operator to'correct the operation is likely to close the valve and use the heated iron to dry out the saturated 5 material, and there is a likelihood of spottin or staining the fabric through application 0 too much moisture thereto.

By this invent1on-I provide means where by the likelihood of applying too much mois- 4o ture to the fabric will be eliminated, and I do away with the necessity of providing the smoothing iron with means for heating the moisture. i I h'sivediscoveredthat by providing the steam applying pipe witha steam drier or 1928. Serial ml. 259,395.

means to separate water of condensation from the steam and providing said pipe between the separating or drying device and the smoothing iron, with a normally closed steam valve and providing means under the control of the operator for opening the valve, the noted difiiculty heretofore involved is eliminated and the operation of pressing and smoothing garments or fabrics can be done perfectly by-unskilled operators.

An object of this invention is to provide a convenient construction and arrangement operation of the valve to supply steam as itis needed causes the steam flowing from the {separator to reach the iron in a practically dry state so that the moisture to be delivered to the goods through the bottom of the iron will not be of a character to harm the goods. Another object is to make provision of means to enable the operator to avoid wetting the pressing board.

Another object is to enable the operator full freedom of both hands for using the iron and manipulating the garment and also full control of the application of hot dry steam to the goods, and also to provide an arrangement that will avoid likelihood of any interference of the steam tube and the electric cord with the movement of the operator. In this respect I have provided a supporting arm extending from above .therear of the pressing board forwardly over. the pressing board, and I have provided a combined hand,

and a foot lever consisting of a Z shaped metal rod pivoted at its upper end to a support and at its lower end to the floor and suspended by a suspension spring connection to the underside of the pressing board and connected by the connection to the valve lever.

Another object of the invention is to make provision whereby a fabric steaming device can be applied to the bottom of an electric smoothing iron.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawings, the subjoined detailed description and the appended claims.

The accompanying drawing illustrates the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a pressing apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention. The handle of the selfclosing valve is shown in normal position holding taut the connection between such handle and the lever to depress the same.

Fig. 2 is a plan View, partly in section, of a modified form of the steam applying attachment to the self-heating smoothing iron.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation on line 003, Fig. 2.

1 designates an ironing board or surface which is shown as of the wall-bracket type, but which may be of any approved construction, as used in pressing and cleaning establishments. r

The presser 2 maybe any smoothing iron of the self-heating fabric steaming character and by preference is of the electric type in which a heating element, not shown, is built into the body of theiron. As is common, a flexible conductor 3 is coupled to the iron for detachable connection with .an outlet fixture by a plug shown at 4.

The bottom 5 of the iron is perforated as at 6 and carries ducts or distributing channels 7 for communication with a source of steam supply such as the pipe 8 through a flexible hose i In order that the conductor 3 and hose 9 may be disposed most advantageously to the operator I provide a support 10, 11 and 10 upstanding over the ironing board from which the conductor and hose-may be suspended over the iron and board. The support I0, 11 and 10 is shown as comprising a standard 10 fixed to the ironing board, a steam separating drum 11 fixed to the standard 10 and a bent pipe 10 fixed to the upper end of the drum 11. The upright steam pipe 12 opens at 12 into the separating drum 11 and a dry steam pipe 12 opens from the drum 11 and is led through the pipe 10' which i is provided at 10" with a gap in which is located a self-closing valve 13 provided with a handle 13 by which the valve may be opened at the will of the operator. The pipe 12 leading upward from the drum 11 connects said drum to the self-closing valve 13 so that not only may separated steam flow from the separating drum 11 to the self-closing valve 13 when the valve is open; but vice versa the condensate in the pipe when the valve is closed will drain out through the drum so that When the valve is again opened, such condensate will not be taken up by the steam and carried on through the valve to the iron. 12" is a pipe connected to the valve 13 and extending through the pipe 10 and terminating beyond the end thereof and over which the end of the flexible tube 9 is fitted so that when the selfclosing valve 13 is open, dry steam will flow from the drumll to the chamber in the iron and the water separated from the steam will flow from the bottom of the separator drum 11 and through the steam pipe 12 and thence through the valved drain connection 18 from which it may be discharged when the valve 18 therein is open. A pedal 14 and flexible connector 15 disposed adjacent the ironing board provide conveniently accessible and easily operated means for controlling the delivery of steam through flexible tube 9 to the iron as desired or required.

An'iron stand comprising a receptacle 16 and a grid top 17 is provided for holding the iron when not in actual use, and by preference such stand is permanently built into the board, there being a hole formed through the board, the'grid secured over the hole and the receptacle secured to the board beneath the hole.

A suitable drain 18 is shown to carry the water of condensation from the drum 11.

In order that the invention may be adapted for use as an attachment to the ordinary electric irons and for use upon ordinary ironing boards, I construct the iron bottom .5 as a unit distinct from the iron proper and provide upstanding flanges 19 and set-screws 20 for its securing to the body of the iron and in a manner to cause the bottom of the iron proper to cover the duct 7 for the direction of steam to the perforations.

The use of the iron for pressing purposes is analogous to the conventional iron, and where moisture is required'the pedal 14 is depressed to open the valve 13; the drum 11 acts as a steam space to permit entrained water to drop back and be carried off through the drain 18, whereby-separated steam with out mechanicallysuspended water, is delivered through the hot iron to the goods being pressed.

As shown in Fig. 2 the steam through hose 9 is delivered'in'to a chamber 21 formed in the top face of the bottom 5, and the ducts 7 lead in a tortuous path from the chamber in advance of the perforations to the end that any condensate that may be delivered to the iron will be converted to steam by heat from the iron and only dry steam delivered to the goods.

The electric cord 3 and the flexible steam tube 9 are fastened together by suitable means as the ties a so as to be handled as a single flexible connection unit, and without confusion, and a helical connection take-up spring 22 carried by a rigid limb 10' of the stand 10 is caught upon such unit to resiliently support the same and to afford freedom of movement of the pressing iron 2.,

A treadle take-up spring 23 supported by the ironing board 1 is connected to the pedal 14 to lift the same, thus taking the weight off the normally up-held valve handle 13 and allowing the spring valve 13 to stand in the closed position as shown in Fig. 1, except when the connector 15 is depressed either by the pedal 14 operated by the hand of the operator on the foot of the user or by the hand lever 24. Said pedal 14 and hand lever 24 are shown made of a single rod or. the like bent at two angles 25, 26 and fulcrumed at 27 to the wall 27, and at 28 on the floor 28.

In practical use the operator will place on the ironing board the goods to be pressed and may take the pressing iron 2 in hand, and by pressing down with his foot on the pedal 14 or with his hand the hand lever 24, he will open the spring closed valve 13 and allow the steam to flow through the tube 9 into the heated chamber 21 from whence it flows through the tortuous passage 7 and out through the perforations 6. Any moisture that passes the separator and flows on through the chamber and passages of the iron is highly heated by the hot iron and is directed through the perforations 6 into the goods over which the iron is moved by the operator.

When the downward pressure on the pedal 14 or lever 24 is relieved, the spring 23 lifts the pedal and lever, the self closing valve 13 closes, thus shutting off the steam from the tube 9. Any condensate that may form in and flow through the tube 9 will be converted into hot dry steam after it enters the smoothing iron. i

The smoothing iron is rovided with a throu h the bottom of the iron; a tube connecte to a source of steam supply and a forked tubular connection connected to the tube and connected to the chamber near the opposite ends thereof so that the steam will be distributed equally to the ends of the tortuous passage.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 28th day of February, 1928.

WILLIAM J. DANENHOWER.

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forked connection 29, having a nipple 30,

onto which the flexible tube 9 is applied.

The drain comprising the grid 17 and the receptacle 16 serves to take care of any moisture that may flow down into the smoothing iron when the current is turned off, so that if condensate forms in the tube and flows through the iron it will be deposited in the 

